Industry Classification
The industry classification for a particular company is found in its company profile.
There are two major systems used to classify the industries of a company. These are useful for identifying companies within a given industry.
1. The U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system uses a two- to four-digit, hierarchical, numeric code to classify industries based on their business activities. [For further information, see Standard Industry Classification (SIC) System, U.S. Department of Labor]
2. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), pronounced "nakes", is a new system that is gradually replacing SIC. NAICS was developed by the United States, Canada, and Mexico to identify more industries and provide a more precise classification of individual businesses. [For further information, see North American Industry Classification System, U.S. Census Bureau]